Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Days leading
to the end of the year are demanding. Plans, strategies and timelines to
achieve the following year’s objectives need to be drawn so one hits the ground
running on the first day of the New Year. Yesterday was one of such days. I therefore
came home very tired with supper on my mind. Just when I finished dinner, I heard
my phone ringing, as though the person calling knew I was done with dinner. The
truth is I had forgotten about my phone all day but not my packed lunch and
snack. While I placed my lunch and snack at a place where I would easily see to
remind me to re-fuel my system (body), I just left my phone unattended to in my
bag. I got to my bag only after the call has dropped and realized it was from
one of my girlfriends. Before I could call back, her message came through, this
only required an SMS reply from me.

After
replying her message, I switched on my laptop to check and reply the emails,
Facebook messages and comments I have received. And it was in the process of
doing these activities, I got reminded of the return leg of the World Cup 2014
Africa qualifiers between the Black stars of Ghana and the Pharaohs of Egypt
through Newaccra. Who else but Newaccra to blog (Ghana vs Egypt), and post on this match to
remind me? And truly they tell the African story in a beautiful way.

The Newaccra
post however got me thinking of how supporters of each team will be celebrating
should the victory go in their favour. If what I have seen in the past is
anything to go by, then expect the drivers to be hooting their horns, music
being played on the highest volume, the drinking spots (pubs) full with bottles
of alcoholic drinks being empty among others. The drinking of alcohol, which is
mostly exceeded by people in celebrating their team’s victory, got my public
health nutrition head worried throughout the night; I could not sleep but to
write this post to ask how you celebrate a happy event. Do you also empty
bottles of alcoholic drinks exceeding your alcohol intake to celebrate an event?

A happy event
might be once a while and exceeding your alcohol intake on such occasions should
not be a big deal, many might say but I also know that, little drops of water
make a mighty ocean. This therefore means developing a behaviour of regularly
exceeding your alcohol intake will be in the pipeline (like it is mostly said
in Ghana, just that this pipeline is likely to be short), putting an individual
at risk of liver diseases, reduced fertility, high blood pressure, increased
risk of various cancers and heart attack among others.

These risks
are not only associated with
exceeding alcohol intake regularly as the recommended amount of drinking
alcohol by a person does not imply, an individual is safe from alcohol-related
problems. Drinking the recommended amount of alcohol only put you at a lower
risk of the alcohol-related problems mentioned in the previous paragraph as drinking alcohol is never completely
safe. Drinking the recommended amount of alcohol only minimize your risk
of alcohol-related problems. As I mentioned the recommended alcohol intake in
my previous post on alcohol, I will not bore you with a repetition of it. If
this your first visit to this blog or you might have forgotten, click on this "I watched him the entire night" to read.

The harmful
effects of alcohol are often hidden and only emerge after some years.
Unfortunately by then, serious health problems could be developed, which is
most likely going to prevent you from enjoying life to the fullest, living it
to the longest as well as preventing you from contributing effectively to the
economy of your society.

Let’s cut
down on our alcohol consumption and if possible avoid it, as the harmful effect of alcohol depends on how much we drink.

TAKE NOTICE that Quarrelsome & Partners, Lawyers for and on
behalf of the Plaintiff/Applicant herein shall move the Honourable
Court for an order of Injunction to stop the Defendant/Respondent herein
whether by themselves or their agents, workmen, servants, assigns and
all other persons, natural or otherwise claiming through them, from
spear-heading, propagating, facilitating, encouraging or otherwise
engendering by any means whatsoever attacks on the semi-good character
and high reputation of the Plaintiff/Applicant pending the final
determination of the issues between the parties in terms of this motion
paper and the supporting affidavit.
Court to be moved on……..the ……day of ……..2013 at 9.00 in the forenoon or so soon thereafter.

DATED AT SALT-TOWN CONDOMINIUM THIS …15..DAY OF …July…2013.

SUPPORTING AFFIDAVIT

I, SODIUM CHLORIDE of Salt-town Estates solemnly swear to this affidavit and state that:

I am the Applicant/Deponent and I swear to this affidavit on matters
which are within my personal knowledge and experience or have otherwise
been brought to my attention in the course of my usage in soups and
industries.

For centuries, I have served mankind very well. From being used in
cooking meals to preserving food, to being used in food and other
product processing. I gladly play my roles. My work doesn’t stop here.

I continue to play roles in your body as well. For instance inside the body, my first name, Sodium regulates blood pressure.

How I do this would require me giving you a physiology lecture which
I bet you are probably not ready for. If you however insist on knowing
more, I recommend WHO, FSA, CASH etc websites to read.

I love to read everything readable, listen to everything listenable
and watch everything watchable and it was during these activities I came
across stories that have saddened my heart leading to the present
lawsuit against WHO.

Do you know CASH, WASH, PWASH, AWASH? I am not really bothered about
the first letters of the acronyms. What bothers me is the last three
letters ASH, Action on Salt and Health. So whether it is consensus or
world, the fact that actions are being taken on me is worrying.

I play good roles especially concerning health, regulating blood
pressure. So why would groups, countries, organization take actions on
me?

Do you know this year, most health awareness campaigns worldwide are
on salt? It is one thing to get the world’s attention with good deeds
but it is another when it is for the wrong reasons.

A good campaign to educate the world about my true character is not an abomination to me and I may support it sometimes.

PARTICULARS OF A FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN

a) Sodium regulates blood pressure. Hence Sodium’s regulation of
your blood pressure is a direct response to the amount of Sodium and me
you take into your body.
b) The more of me consumed, the more I put pressure on your blood
regulation believing you want it, judging from your heavy intake of me.
c) For instance, when you consume more than a teaspoonful of me a
day (5g/day), you increase the amount of my first name, Sodium in your
body. It then puts more pressure on your blood regulation and when this
continues your blood pressure becomes elevated.
d) The unintentional activity of Sodium elevates your blood
pressure beyond the normal range. I must however say, other factors
contribute to elevated blood pressure but it looks like my activity is
the highest of all the risk factors.
e) This elevated blood pressure predisposes you to hypertension, a major risk factor of cadiovascular diseases.
f) You know, one in three adults worldwide is hypertensive. I
know you would doubt me because the one in three adults you meet show no
sign of hypertension. This is because hypertension unlike other
diseases has no symptoms making it very dangerous.

The WHO and others intensify educative campaigns on the nitty-gritty
of my true character to point out my usefulness and
harmfulness.

All persons beware that they consume salted nuts, chips, pizza,
chicken, fries, cereals and many more on their own volition and at their
own peril.

It is only just and equitable that this honourable court orders the
WHO and others to refrain from attacking my character and person for
the hypertension, heart attacks and sudden death of persons who consume
me without restraint.

Just imagine, how can you complain: “ waiter! There is soup in my salt!” and turn around to blame me? That is injustice.

I
could not take my eyes off him, the moment the girls and I entered this
classy restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Yeah, I had to mention the
classy bit to let you know how my purse was crying that evening. How I
comforted the purse for the rest of the month is another story all
together. Now where was I? Aha! So like I was saying, I had been
watching this young man since the time I sat for dinner. It was not only
his good looks, charming smile or…errrmmm I will end the list here,
just know looks and smile are dependent on a person’s taste,
but also the bottles on his table.

Those bottles which I believe was a litre in volume each, containing a
percentage of alcohol, my not very good eagle eyes could capture
were all nearly empty. It got me wondering if this good looking
gentleman with a charming smile knows there is a daily alcohol intake
stipulated by the experts for him or he just can’t be bothered.

Hmmm, I would have loved to use his alcohol intake as an opportunity to get to know him
but for this equally beautiful and charming young lady he sat at the
table with to share those bottles I just sat down and watched them both
but him more. Obviously, unlike poles attract
. For this lady I guess her alcohol intake on this occassion clearly
indicates she really understands and appreciate the Beijing Conference.

The least I could do was to take a leaf of my sweet scented notepad and write this http://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx
with my equally sweet scented pen. So pleasant was the fragrance, the
lady with whom he shared his table gave me ‘the stay off my man’ look
when the waiter gave him my note. Knowing what I wrote in the note, I
was the least perturbed.

As we passed by his table after paying for that expensive dinner, he
gently grabbed my hand, gave me his charming smile and said “Meet my sister
(with an emphasis )and can I have your number as we especially me,
would love to talk more about this note”. I couldn’t believe my blessing
as I pulled out my business card and it was in pulling out my business
card did it dawn on me that, he is now a client , so….too bad yeah? I know.

Anyway, what can I say, there is a risk with every job but that
shouldn’t stop us from doing it. And as you love your job like i do
mine, I know you will understand why I look forward to hearing from them to talk about alcohol intake.

Two months ago, the World Bank predicted an economic growth for
Sub-Saharan Africa for the next 3 years. Forgive me my dear reader for I
am not in position to furnish you with the better and further
particulars of this prediction as my economics cannot analyze this
report to confirm their prediction, so let us take this prediction on
the World Bank’s pink sheet for now. And besides the trusting ratings of
World Bank is near 100% if not 100% so there is no need to doubt this
prediction.

Back to the pink sheet from World Bank. On the face of this pink
sheet, I would say it is good news for the continent as it implies a
reduction of poverty, elimination of hunger, the building and improving
of infrastructure and many morein the coming few years. As much as I
would love to talk about poverty and hunger please permit me to comment
on the infrastructure bit . I believe if you have spent your entire
undergraduate years living with students of planning and building
technology programmes like I have, you will understand my interest in
infrastructure plans is not only born out of public health.

Infrastructure plans! I imagine they will be far advanced in
Sub-Saharan African countries, as their leaders like all leaders in
other continents are keen on making their countries better for both
their citizens and those of other countries and other continents. I
believe in these plans will be roads, bridges, electrical grids etc. I
also believe their various ministers, mayors, district chief executives
are having a hard time deciding on which plan to approve or disapprove,
continue or terminate or make changes to meet objectives. I hope in
these objectives will be one that seeks to prevent disease, promote and
protect the health and wellbeing of Sub-Saharan Africans. One of the
objective towards health and wellbeing of the population I hope to see
will be one that seeks to provide a supportive physical activity
environment.

In my post yesterday on the international student,
I mentioned how a supportive environment must be built to encourage
individuals to be physically active and also stay active as this
together with other health behaviours (eating balanced diet, no smoking)
will improve the quality and length of life? Hence on my mind today are
there questions. Do the infrastructure plans that are being approved or
executed by the transport ministry, city, and town councils in Africa
have provisions made for cycling lanes to encourage more cycling among
their citizens and less bus and train transport? Do the road
infrastructure plans being approved or executed have in them demarcated
pedestrian walkways and zebra crossings to encourage people to walk and
also have traffic lights and street lights been checked to ensure they
have been properly placed to encourage walking at all times? Yes an all
time-walking by people. You know we are different people with different
schedules so a one sized jacket cannot fit as all. Thus my call for the
need to ensure all individuals can engage in physical activities that
suit their schedule. I know this will mean adequate security in our
cities and towns so let us hope, the city and town councils, ministers
and governments have included security in their plans. Have sport
centres being included in ther country, cities and towns’ infrastructure
plans? Have opens spaces and parks being demarcated in these plans?

I can go on and on with questions but let me not bore you with my
numerous questions. You know when it comes to the health and wellbeing
of a population questions are always on my mind. In this situation, my
concerns are as result of how it is difficult to find cycling pathways,
open spaces and parks in the country I hail from. I wonder how many
there even are. It is also difficult to for me to go for a walk as
pedestrian walkways and traffic lights are either poorly placed or
absent. Even if I wanted to visit a sport centre or gym, I would have to
travel quite a distance to get to one and if I got to one, the price
will be another headache I have to painfully endure as it is high due it
being privately owned and also not having the owner speaking the
promotions language. All these have made my mind to be filled with too
many questions.

I strongly believe when a supportive physical activity environment is
built, together with other factors (food etc.), the predicted booming
economy would not just be felt in the pockets of Sub-Saharan Africans
but also in their healthy bones and flesh. For what use will the money
be for an ailing Sub-Saharan African body if not for treating illness?
Perhaps, you might not be a Sub-Saharan African, but these concerns of
mine on a supportive physical activity environment which you have read
are not just concerns for only Sub-Saharan Africans but for every
individual, city, town and country as we all deserve better health and
wellbeing. Thus, I believe it is about time, we all start taking
interests in the infrastructure plans of our town, city or country.
My dear reader, considering the benefits of being and staying active
(diary of an international student), am wondering, if it is about time
leaders of Sub-Saharan Africa and all other continents call KPMG (in
this instance the public health officer) to audit the pink sheets
(infrastructure plans) presented by petitioners (planners) before they
are approved and to be executed especially if they are not doing so?
Should populations take keen interest in these plans or should they
place their faith in their town, city and country planners?

As I end this post, my last question is this, while some of us wait
for a supportive environment to assist in being and staying active, are
there any basic things we can do to keep us, active?

Dear Diary,
I can’t help but notice how international students especially those
from Africa to other continents become physically active individuals as
soon as they begin their education in these continents. It is as though
they just read or heard through the various forms of media (website,
digital signage) available to them in the country, city or university of
study that an adult their age (19-64years) requires at least
150minutes/week of moderate intensity activities. Ha! I almost forgot I
didn’t carry you along with me during the physical activity lectures
hence I need to explain moderate intensity activity to you. You know how
I can’t keep things in my head so permit me to use the explanation
given in the 2011 report by the 4 chief medical officers of the
countries that make up UK even as we wait for my prayers for a
refrigerator-like head to be answered.

They explained moderate intensity physical activities to be those
activities that will cause adults to get warmer and breathe harder and
their hearts to beat faster and still being able to carry on a
conversation. Examples include brisk walking and jogging. These experts
also have what they call vigorous intensity physical activity. This,
they explained as activities that will cause adults to get warmer and
breathe much harder and their hearts to beat rapidly, making it more
difficult to carry on a conversation with examples such as running and
sports such as football and swimming. These explanations Diary are based
on the average person’s ability so if there are people who cannot
converse during a moderate physical activity, I guess it is about time,
they become more committed to physical activity and for those who can
still converse during a vigorous physical activity, thumbs up but please
take it easy a little.

Now let’s go back to the story of the international students. My dear
Diary, I am still wondering what are the factors influencing these
international students decision to stay physically activity. Could the
availability and location of facilities such as sports centres, gyms,
open spaces and parks available in their universities and cities be
factors influencing their decision? Or is it that these facilities may
be comparatively cheaper than those back in their home countries, cities
and universities (the truth Dairy, I wonder how many of these
facilities are available within accessible distance from these students’
residence or offices back home)? Perhaps, this decision to stay active
can be attributed to influence from other people.

As I continue to wonder what these influencers are, it is interesting
to however note Diary, these students are only active in the gyms and
sports centres. While some of them in their bid to utilize their one
year by pass will jump on a bus even when their destination is 5mins
away, those without one do not own bicycles (these bicycles can always
be sold when these students are returning home). While I can try to
understand why those international students who have a year’s bus pass
do not own a bicycle (which in my opinion is not a tangible excuse), I
wonder what the excuse is for those who do not have a year’s bus pass
especially with cycling lanes demarcated to encourage more cycling and
less car or bus or train transport in the cities in which their
studying. I guess I have to email the little things that we do
article to them. Will I be right to say these students only associate
being physically active to going to the gyms, sports centres or keep fit
clubs? Or could it be that, they are on the quest to achieve a certain
body image for a lady/gentleman at their place of study or back home so
their visits to these facilities to lift weights? May be their highest
influence could be due to the benefits associated with staying active
(Reduces risk of a range of diseases, e.g. coronary heart disease,
stroke, type 2 diabetes etc).

Whatever the factors (cost, convenience, body image, health,
information and many more) may be, we won’t be able to tell as you and I
will not be there when they are making the decision to stay active and
can only use the face of the pink sheets available to say, our dear
international students are at least trying to stay active for a quality
life now and tomorrow. Nonetheless, as I am not a cat, I intend to find
out which factor(s) is (are) the highest influencer(s) in the physical
activity decision making process of students both home and international
so that their universities and perhaps their sponsors can develop the
appropriate health improvement materials to assist these students in
making healthier lifestyle choices.

Luxury, comfort, fast-track are all words we love. Is it any surprise
to know technology has been welcomed so well into our homes, workplaces
etc? With just a touch of a button, we have moved from the ground floor
to the 5th floor within seconds. By just appearing in front
of a door, it opens and by just walking into a building, the lights are
turn on. Photonics, my expert friend tells me it is. A touch of a button
and our laundry is done, our food cooked and warmed. In fact, it looks
as though the world has become; a world of a touch of buttons. How lives
have become fast-track and comfortable? And O! Who would let go the
luxury of fast cars, trains etc to walk only to become tired? I could go
on and on about how technology has made our lives simple, easy, fast,
comfort etc but I know you are already aware so I would spare you the
long talk.

The question on my mind is; has technology become a good servant or a
bad one? Don’t get me wrong. I love technology but with the world
getting more sedentary and consequently raising the prevalence of
overweight and obesity among all age groups, I only have one choice i.e.
to wonder if technology is the cause of our predicament or our
lifestyle choices? For instance, why would a person on the ground floor
of a building take the elevator to the first floor? Why would someone
choose a 2-minute bus drive over a 10-minute walk when he/she is not
late? Why have we taken an addiction to pre-cook meals and habitually
ordering of meals when we have ample time to get into the kitchen to
cook? Why have we developed an addiction to car rides and not walks in
the parks? Why are the cycling lanes not full of cyclists but the roads
are are full of drivers? Why……..

I can guess your answer, “I don’t have time. Time is money, don’t you
know that?” I pray soon you wouldn’t have to make time for diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases etc and spend the money you made while “saving
time” on them. Having a normal BMI (18.5 -24.9) hasn’t only got to do
with eating the required amount of food your body needs or opting for
low caloric food but also been physically active and making good
lifestyle choices.

Take note, physical activity is not synonymous to exercise; exercise
is part of physical active. Just know that, sometimes it is those little
things that we do that makes us stay active and fit. But remember not
to rule out exercise.

Beginning today, let’s make a conscious effort to walk, take the
stairs, cook, etc. At the end, technology is only a servant that needs
to be checked and not a master that has to check us.

Dear Diary,
I know it’s been long . My hard disk is even annoyed with the fact
that I keep saving posts on it without submitting them to you. Hmmm,
what can I say but the words of the little boy in the advert, ‘it’s not
fault’. I hope to be a good editor when my paparazzi bring their
stories. I know you might be wondering what happened for me to make this
post. You will understand after you read these 3 stories

Story 1
I know I have been preaching that international students go global
with their diet but the recipe which was formulated by this
international student have put me in a state of shock and I am just
wondering which country or group of people take this recipe. I am hoping
by putting the recipe up someone might help me with the country.

Recipe of an international student
1 small cup of corn flakes
I small sachet of spaghetti
1 medium sized baked beans
(Any brand will work).
Boil the Spaghetti and when it is about ready, add all the other ingredients.
I am serious this is not a joke.
My advice, this definitely exceeds your Eatwell Plate (To know more Google eatwell plate)

Story 2
I don’t know if this is being food secured or nutrition secured. Just
like malnutrition I think the definition of food security and nutrition
security should both have under food security (food insecurity) and
over food security (Hope FAO comes out with a new term for this). If you
do not know the meaning of each I suggest to you to call FAO to audit
to this post. Why am I asking for a definition for over food security
and over nutrition security (these are my own terms, so don’t call the
Afari Gyan of FAO on me)? Can you believe the international student is
actually preparing ground (pea) nut soup with a whole chicken and eating
the soup in a day? Yes in a day! If he was eating the soup alone, it
could have been quite pardonable, but with an accompaniment, this should
give public health nutritionists headaches.
My advice, food security does not mean over eating. WHO is already
battling with obesity and hypertension, so please do not add to the
number.

Story 3
My last story is on this international that has just refused to buy
products in the country in which she is studying. I know there are some
products that are just produced in her country but in her case tinned
fish is not one of them. She still insists on buying Made in her Home
Country tinned fish. I am just wondering what she will do now as EU has
ban importation of this product from her country. You cannot blame the
EU, they have to ensure the food system is safe for its citizenry and if
a country is following the guidelines and have not provided the
evidence with references, they have no other choice but to take such
action.
My advice to her, instead of collapsing after reading about the ban, please psych yourself up to embrace other tinned fish.

I told you I had lots of stories my dear Dairy. I will end here as I
do not want to bore you. Till I bring you more stories remember, health,
wealth and happiness.

Dear Diary,
In my first post, I told you about the amount of local food the
international student has packed and how he has made searches on Google
for shops that sell local foodstuff. Can you blame her Diary? From
childhood, her taste habitation have only known these foods and since
this taste habitation have developed into adulthood, the only foods it
recognizes are those packed in the suitcases and sold at the
international shops.

Is it then any wonder a friend of this
international student who has been missing out on some local foods due
to the unavailability of shops in the town he is learning in couldn’t
take it any longer, he travelled to visit her and some other colleagues
just to get some local food to eat? His hunger for local food was so
obvious, one of the team members that hosted him exclaimed “I now know
why A was always itching to visit us, just see how aggressive he was
…oh poor banku and tilapia in the hands of visiting A…LOL (unedited).
Another also said “when it comes to food, I will vote for A go go go my
man (unedited).”

These students really enjoy their local food and I think it would
take a very long time for them to try out dishes from the Land they are
studying. Why do I say this; read what one wrote; Students shall not
live by books alone; every ball of banku also counts (unedited).

International student, I know your taste habitation is used to these
local foods but if you have been very courageous to taste the education
of a foreign land why not its food? It would be difficult at the
beginning just like your studies (fitting into a new system of
education) but with time you would definitely get use to it. Variety
always spices up life.

Did I hear you O! International student say, “You would bring Asanka
Delight to this foreign land?” Diary, I guess we have a long time to
wait to reformation.

Till my paparazzi bring you the next story on how the EU’s decision
to stop the importation of Tuna from the homeland of this international
student nearly caused him to be admitted, it’s cheers!

According to the UN, approximately 870 million are suffering from
hunger that means one out of eight people suffers from hunger. Hunger is
deadly, killing 2.5million children annually. These children die out of
malnutrition. The rest who do not die are undernourished with vitamin A
deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia and stunting being prevalent
amongst these children. Undernourishment affects not only one’s physical
state but also the ability to maximize one’s potential. The good news
is hunger can be eliminated.

At the heart of eliminating hunger is food security; making food
available, accessible and affordable in one’s country. To achieve food
accessibility and affordability, food must be available first. Food
availability is harnessed by better agriculture production. It is
therefore important to make sure all the determinants of food security
especially those that affect agriculture production are managed well to
minimize if not eliminate its effect. Determinants such as the labour
force in agriculture, the land and ponds, seedlings, tools and equipment
used in agriculture and others when improved would ensure better
harvest to feed population(s). Again, good transportation systems, good
markets conditions etc would also make safe and nutritious food
accessible and affordable for all.

Yet, there is one determinant of food security that renders the
efforts made to minimize or eliminate the effects of the other
determinants mentioned above ineffective. This factor is poor political
condition (political unrest). During a political unrest, farmlands,
infrastructure, irrigation systems, farm machinery, crops etc are
destroyed. Where crops are not destroyed, they cannot be harvested
either as a result of destroyed farm equipment and/or farmers
unwillingness to go out for obvious security issues. Even if these crops
are harvested, transporting the produce to market places to make them
accessible to feed the whole population also becomes difficult for
transportation systems are in worse conditions and where they are not;
insecurity associated with such unrest makes it difficult for one to go
the marketplaces to sell or buy food. With most farms destroyed, little
produce harvested and the inability to market the produce, farmers in a
country going through a political unrest have very low household incomes
to buy other uncultivated foodstuff and essential household
commodities. Again, with little or no food on the market, with shops
closed and people unwillingness to go out for fear of losing their
lives, people are unable to get adequate food to feed the household.

Such is the situation in countries such as Syria, Mali, Sudan, and
Somalia to mention but a few. In Syria today, 46% of its population who
are dependent on agriculture are faced with destroyed farmlands,
infrastructure, irrigation systems, transportation systems etc as a
result of the political unrest. Syria has also been hit by bad weather
conditions. These put together is making it difficult for Syria to feed
her population. Many have been displaced and many have fled their homes
without anything but the clothes on their back as they seek secured
places for their families. Find out more from here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq8Bpc9etgE.
With little or no food production, with shops closed or destroyed with
thousands displaced from their homes and seeking refuge, how can the
father provide food for the family? How can the mother feed her hungry
children? And how can pregnant and lactating mothers filled with fear,
anxiety etc feed their unborn babies and babies respectively.

This is not the time to teach a nation going through such crises how
to fish; this is the time to give fish. For how can we teach them how to
fish when the ponds, fishing nets, boats etc have been destroyed? This
is the time to create a safety net for them. This is the time to help
them survive for we need one another to survive in this world. The world
would not be complete without Syria, Mali and the others. We cannot
watch on as hunger wipes them out for this would make our world
incomplete. Thankfully, the United Nation has set up the World Food
programme and other relief agencies to bring together our collective
efforts to help save the people especially children who suffer the most
from hunger. We cannot go to Syria, Mali and the others to help them but
WFP and these agencies can. Their work is supported by countries,
organizations and individuals like us. Remember, the UN is all of us and
thus need our support. Yes! Your country has supported these crises
but the continuous conflict in Syria, Mali and other places have made
these funding from various countries, organizations and individuals very
little. If countries, organizations and individuals continue to
contribute their little, it can do much. Remember little drops of water
make a mighty ocean. Our little can do much for Syria, Mali, Sudan,
Somalia etc. Let us help WFP to provide fish for these countries and
when peace is finally restored, they can teach them how to fish.

Every child deserves this smile.
Remember, a child went to bed hungry yesterday, would go to bed
hungry today and tomorrow. Again a child died yesterday, would die today
and tomorrow out of hunger and malnutrition. It wasn’t just a child
that went to bed hungry or died; it was the next Steve Job, Oprah
Winfrey, Barack Obama, Ertharin Cousin, Lionel Messi etc. Should such
future prospect not be allowed to maximize his/her potential because of
hunger? Should our world be robbed off such a gem that would have made
our world better than it is now? The answer is obviously NO! Let’s say
NO to hunger. Let’s all join hands in feeding these populations
especially women and children who are the most vulnerable by donating
our little. Visit the WFP and other agencies and make a donation today
to help save a country and a child. Every child needs to eat and be
strong to smile like this child. Every child needs a nourished brain and
body to look into the future with a confidence to maximize his/her
potential like this child. Let’s not deprive a child these. Visit WFP (https://www.wfp.org/) now and make a donation.

Dear Ghanaian,
How are you doing? I guess the football season has ‘cooled off your
tempers’ after the elections. This however brings a question to mind;
should you always be reminded you are a Ghanaian when the national team
is playing a tournament or a qualifier? Why do I ask this question? I
noticed how most of you were intolerant of one another’s view during the
political season to the extent that some blocked and ‘unfriend’ friends
on the social network, facebook and some splashed their facebook
timelines with insults and unfortunate tribal remarks. I do not even
want to talk about what transpired on radio and television. On Sunday
the 22nd of January, 2013, I read different comments on the
performance of the Black stars. They were varying but the reason behind
the comments was obvious; every Ghanaian had wanted the Black stars to
win the match against Congo. This made me to wonder, how can Ghanaians
argue from different angles during the football season and accept one
another’s view yet when they argue from different view points during the
political season, they do not see the reason behind the argument to be;
we all want quality life (I dare not use better Ghana for obvious
reasons) for Ghanaians and the generations to come. Anyway, I did not
come to talk politics and football; I came to talk about what this blog
is known for.

On the 17th of January, 2013, I read the President has commissioned a five-year $663,299,496 Accra Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Drainage Alleviation
(please click on the hyperlink to read more). I heard most of you say,
“it’s about time”. Yes! I agree it is about time. It’s about time
Ghana’s drains, streets, markets, public places, private places etc are
clean and smell good because clean environment is not just for flood
management or tourist attraction but for our nutritional well-being as
well. I would not be surprise if a few are waiting for such projects to
be commissioned to clean their homes. As we are all advocate for clean
environment, may I remind you that, this onus falls on the government.
Yes! The government. Make no mistake you are the government. The
government is not the elected few but you and I as well. In any case,
did the AMA, KMA… Bosses or the President create the filth you see on
your streets, drains and market places? Do not ask me who created it
because I did not come here to call the police but the ambulance.
As a student public health nutritionist, I have come to know for an
individual to yield his/her potential to the maximum he/she needs to be
nutritionally well too. Nutritional well-being is not just about eating
the right food and doing the right physical activity. Nutritional
well-being (security) as defined by the World Bank in 2006 exist when
food security (availability, accessibility and affordability of
nutritious food, for more visit the FAO, WHO, USAID etc websites or
visit this blog again) is combined with a sanitary environment, adequate
health services and proper care and feeding practices to ensure a
healthy life for all household members. If the World Bank is defining
nutritional security, then you should know nutritional well-being is
associated with wealth (money).

From the above definition; how clean is Ghana’s environment? Which
environment do Ghanaians sell and purchase their food? Where do they eat
their food? I guess the Ghanaian is in the best position to answer
these questions. I know the AMA, KMA etc and other bodies are working
very hard to make Ghana’s environment and market places clean to meet
high standards. However their efforts are not yielding the results to
give sanitary environment for Ghana’s nutritional security. Why is this
so? I can attempt to answer this; some Ghanaians if not all, litter the
environment intentionally and unintentionally with the assumption that
the AMA, KMA etc have been paid to clean their filth. Some say, “If I
don’t make the place dirty, someone would not get work to do (creating
employment right?)”. In case these people didn’t know, there are places
in the world where the environment is clean but they still have ‘AMA,
KMA’ working? Who are you then; the Ghanaian who helps to keep the
environment clean or one who does not? In either case, it doesn’t matter
as long as the market places you purchase your food isn’t in the best
conditions, your nutritional well-being is still at risk. The next time
you or someone else decides to litter the environment, know you are
putting yourself, the country and the future generation at risk
nutritionally and not only economically (flood management, tourism and
investment, as though nutrition is not an economic issue; cross check
this with the World Bank). We put the future generation at risk as well
because an unhealthy parent gives birth to unhealthy baby who grows to
continue this unhealthy and uneconomical cycle.

I know some would also say “we would cook our food for long to kill
any present germs”. That is very thoughtful, but as you kill the germs,
know that they are not the only ones ‘dying’ but some nutrients for
which you are eating the food for are also been ‘killed’. I believe you
know now what you have been feeding your poor body with if you belong to
this school of thought. Don’t be deceived, you who buy your foodstuffs
from the supermarkets, you still get to breath in the ‘lavender’ of the
capital city and other cities and towns. Only God knows what is in this
‘lavender’ you are breathing. To move Ghana from a middle income country
to a developed country, nutritional security plays a key role (healthy
individuals to work in the economy) and thus, the environment especially
market places, places where food are stored, cooked and eaten need to
be secured.

The next time, you think of littering the environment think not of
the AMA, KMA etc, think of your nutritional well-being. The next time,
your assembly man, Church etc wake you up to clean your community, do
not grumble but look forward with gladness because you are protecting
your well-being and that of your community, country and future
generations. Let us not only think of clean environment as an attraction
for tourism, flood management, investment etc but let’s see it as a
protection of our nutritional well–being.
Remember, one litter you drop will eventually come back to you. No one sows a corn seed and expect melon fruits.

Till I bring you another slice of the cake, continue to keep your environment clean.

After being in the queue for more than an
hour to go through checks, the international student has enplaned. The
long queue certainly took the excitement of his journey away but this is
not the only thing stealing his excitement; the food he is leaving
behind. Don’t get him wrong he is also sad about moving away from his
family and friends but you know how technology has provided solutions to
bring them close despite the distance. O how this student wishes,
technology can help transmit food along cables. Then Fufu, Banku, Tuo
Zaafi (Ghanaian dishes) would be a dial away.

Fufu and Light soup (Ghanaian dish)
With suitcases full of dried fish (koobi, Amane, Keta school boys),
shito, flour (Fufu, Banku, Tuo Zaafi, okro) etc, this student hopes the
first few weeks wouldn’t be difficult to deal with ‘food nostalgia’.
Rumor has it he packed more food than books and clothing. It is my
prayer this student meets favourable weather conditions at the land he
is travelling to study. O! Diary, how I wished you could see the way the
food items were packaged. You may think this student has been a
‘bookman’ (a term in Ghana for a person who ensures passengers’ luggages
are well packed into buses) before. Trust me this packaging would
by-pass the watchful eyes of the immigration officers at the airport.
Did he hear of the predicament of this other international student who
was delayed by officers due to the 20kg of local food he was carrying as
they thought he was into imports and exports of local food without the
proper documents (I don’t know what got him off the hook though)? I
guess he did.Image by Google
Before boarding the plane, he made searches on Google for shops in
the city where he can get local food ingredients to buy. As usual,
Google was helpful to give a list of such shops. Thank God for Google. I
think he should be grateful to God that, many of his countrymen live in
this new country and city he is travelling to. This brings questions to
mind; what would he have done if there were no such shops? Would he
have packed food lasting for the period he was going to be in this new
place? I believe his diet would have been like students who find
themselves in this kind of situation. They only eat a particular type of
food (your guess is as good as mine). I am just wondering if these
students have heard about diet diversification and its importance to
nutritional well-being (this is another topic for later discussion but
if you are impatient to know, contact a nutritionist. Google would help
but always critique what you read).

As the plane is landing at its destination airport after hours of
being air bound, the only thoughts of this student are Mummy’s Ampesi and Garden eggs stew, Mama’s Banku and Okro stew,
and my thoughts; how can one accept the world to be a global village
when it comes to communication, business etc but can’t go global with
food? Perhaps, diets would be more diversified and the benefits for
health and wealth might be amazing.

Till my paparazzi and I bring you more stories on this student Diary, Cheers!
PS: Both He and she shall be used to denote the international student

The season is over but the reason for the season still lives on.
During the season, I couldn’t help but notice how people celebrated it
and the decisions they made with the hope of correcting these decisions
in one way or the other. As it comes with the season, there were lots to
eat and drink and most people if not all forgot to eat in moderation.
“Let’s eat and drink for the season is annual”, many said. For others,
it was “let’s eat and drink because once the season ends, the head
pastor would declare a 30-day fasting period, perhaps, we can use that
to lose the weight we might gain (hmmm, I hope head pastors do not read
this)”. For those in the orthodox Churches, their hope of losing weight
would be during The Lent period. And for others, they might have to wait
for their spiritual emphasis months (dear reader, please note I am in
no way implying fasting is a period of losing weight, some actually
maintain their weight during fasting periods, lol).

Yet still there was another group, the students, who wouldn’t miss
this season to put on some flesh since studies have left them looking
undernourished (this would be a great concern for public health
nutritionist you know?). And for another group, they boycotted keep fit
clubs, gyms, jogging and anything exercise. “Who would want to exercise
during this season?” They rhetorically asked. For them, their
consolation was in the fact that, once the season is over, they would
gather more vim to start these activities again or wait for institutions
and organizations to organize physical activity programmes like ICGC
Life Walk, Nestle Milo Marathon to partake in them. This, they believe
would bring them back into shape. For others, their workplace activities
would make up for loses in their physical activity level.

Whatever their motivation was, I cannot tell but only speculate. All I
know is this; is human nature to indulge oneself once in awhile
especially when the opportunity presents itself and find quick fix
solution to avert the consequences if any should arise.

Another season would soon come in the not too distant future. I
wonder if they would eat their ‘bodies’ out even though that season
would require a sober reflection of one’s life. I can only imagine so I
sit here like the keen observer enjoying the mundane activities of life.

As I take a journey down memory lane, I reminisce the good times I
had during my undergraduate years at the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST). There, I made new and wonderful friends
and got introduced to a lot of campus life activities. Of all the things
I got introduced to, there is one I very much appreciate; The Drink
(please don’t jump to conclusion, am no glutton. I just enjoy good
food).

It was consumed by almost everyone on campus, lecturers and students
alike. Every market in the halls of residence had it on sale. And at the
KNUST Commercial area, one was bound to find many people queued to buy
it as if it was the launch of the iPhone N. The sellers here, made sure
there was hot pancake to accompany it. Drink-ups were not void of it and
most often, it featured on the ‘Item 13’ of students’ gatherings. The
reading rooms and students’ learning desks were all decorated with this
drink. And O! One could not meet a couple taking a lovers’ stroll on
Friday nights without this third party – the drink. Of all the places
that sold this drink, the best place I loved to make purchase was at the
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology mini shop stationed behind
the Chemistry block. This was because, I was sure that the drink
contained the live cultures (probiotics) I needed for my digestive
system.

Interestingly, this was the same drink; a food company in Ghana
introduced onto the Ghanaian market some years back and was rejected by
the sweet toothed Ghanaian claiming it was sour. But here it was on
KNUST campus, doing so well with its demand sky rocketing. The demand
for this drink is not only high in KNUST but in most western countries.

To tell you the truth, the reason I took delight in taking this drink
for the first two years on campus had nothing to do with the drink’s
usefulness to my body. I took it for its sweet sour taste and also
because it was very filling (considering my limited budget for food) and
sustained me for longer lecture hours. Additionally, I thought the
drink to be healthy (less sugar and little or no food additive). Perhaps
the noise about it on campus, made me join others in consuming this
drink (this is no peer pressure). These reasons I believe would be what
many students would give for consuming this drink. It was not until my
third year in Biochemistry almost the same time I began having problems
with milk intake (details in my previous blog, IT’S MILK….)
that I came to appreciate its importance. Had the preparation of this
drink being taught in the first year of Biochemistry, I am certain, many
of my course mates including myself would have gladly abandoned the
frustrating fascinating Biochemistry programme and started a business
producing this drink. How wise of our lecturers to have saved the best
for the last and now we can boast of being Biochemists, who are fully
prepared to contribute our quota to society.

The benefits of the drink are numerous and research into its
importance is still underway. Below, are some importance of it to the
body:

It contains beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which are able to
repopulate and sustain healthy bacteria in the intestines, which fight
infections consequently boosting one’s immune system.

It is rich in calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, iodine and contains
good amounts of vitamins B12 and B5, potassium, zinc, protein and
molybdenum.

According to a research carried out by the International Journal of
Obesity, the drink’s consumption showed significant weight loss among
obesed adults.

For the lactose intolerant, the drink serves as a best substitute
for lactose-containing products as the lactose in the drink has
fermented into lactic acid thereby eliminating the possibility of any
stomach troubles (details in my previous blog, IT’S MILK….).

And for the female suffering from vaginal infections, the drink can
help maintain a healthy balance of natural bacteria in the vagina.

YOU GOT TO KNOW WHICH DRINK I AM TALKING ABOUT NOW.

Looking at its nutrient rich content and
health benefits, one would expect to find this drink on most shelves of
supermarkets and mini shops in Ghana and not just on KNUST campus. I
must however say, this drink is gradually becoming popular among
Ghanaian folks and can now be seen on the Ghanaian market but some are
being sold under appalling conditions. I think you would find the market
tips useful when buying YOGHURT – ouch! I have mentioned the drink’s
name. Now it’s no secret that THE DRINK is YOGHURT.

When buying yoghurt
look out for these;

Select brands containing rich amounts of live probiotics culture.
These means traditionally fermented yoghurt is the best choice.

Go for the freshest yoghurt on the market by checking the production
dates and expiration dates. The closer the date of your purchase is to
the production date, the fresher the yoghurt.

Avoid yoghurt containing high amounts of sugar, and additives.

As it is a fresh dairy product, it must always be stored in
refrigerators and not on the heads of street hawkers. Heat is likely to
destroy the live probiotics culture.

IS IT ANY WONDER, THE BIOCHEMIST FROM KNUST LOVES TO PREPARE FRESH
YOGHURT (as known on the Ghanaian market) AND SELL (research indicates
that every biochemist from KNUST has at one point thought of making
yoghurt a business)? Their sole aim is to help Ghanaians enjoy healthy
drinks ceteris paribus.
Friend, make yoghurt a part of your diet. It is not only good for the lactose intolerant but for you as well.